Mealworm Farm Growing Kits
Super Convenient
Have a continuous supply of home grown mealworms in the comfort of your home. There are over 12 million insect eating pets in Australia, 23 million in the US and almost 70 million in the EU.
Packed with Protein
Mealworms are 54% protein, have a lower fat content and are packed full of essential vitamins. They are the perfect food source of animals, birds & reptiles.
Save Money
Converting your waste food into a consistent supply of animal feed and high quality plant fertiliser. 17% of total global food production is currently wasted.
Incredibly Sustainable
Mealworms are the future of sustainable protein. Mealworms use a fraction of the land, energy and resources compared to traditional livestock.
Grow your own mealworms
Mealworm Farm Kit – The Bug Factory Growing Pods
🌱 Made from 100% Recycled Fridges
🌿 Sustainably Sourced Homegrown Mealworms
🧳 Compact and Convenient Design
🌱 Utilise Mealworm Waste as Nutrient-Rich Plant Feed
🔄 Recycle Your Fruit and Vegetable Scraps
🐓 Ideal for poultry, wild birds, reptiles and fishing
＄ Cheaper and more convenient than store bought mealworms
Are you ready to save money, embrace sustainability, and elevate your pet and animal feed quality? Look no further – mealworms are the future of sustainable protein!
Why waste your fruit and vegetable scraps when you can transform them into pet feed with our mealworm pods?
What’s Included in the Box:
- Three Trays
- Three Lids
- One Beetle Inlay Tray
- One Plastic Tweezer
- Three Carbon Filters
- As we can’t ship live mealworms, you will need to source some locally – most local pet shops have them.
$159.99
Mealworm Lifecycle
The mealworm lifecycle comprises four stages: egg, larva/mealworm, pupae, and adult beetle. Starting as eggs, they hatch into small, white mealworm larvae, feeding voraciously on organic matter. The larval stage lasts several weeks, during which they moult and grow in size.
As they reach maturity, the mealworms enter the pupal stage, transforming into pupae, resembling a dormant, non-feeding state. Within this phase, they undergo metamorphosis, eventually emerging as adult darkling beetles. These beetles reproduce, laying eggs to initiate the cycle anew.
The entire lifecycle typically spans 1-2 months, showcasing the fascinating transformation of mealworms from tiny eggs to beetles.
Our pods stagger the life cycle of the mealworm. Mealworms are the larval stage of the darkling beetle. They are high in protein and essential vitamins.
Want to learn more?
Check out our product manual here.
Produce a continuous supply of sustainable & nutritious animal feed with our mealworm breeding kits. Ideal for poultry, wild birds, reptiles and fishing.
+ Cheaper & more convenient than store bought mealworms
+ Made with 100% recycled fridge plastic
+ Use mealworm waste as plant feed
+ Recycle your fruit & vegetable waste
+ High quality sustainable animal feed
Supermeal: The Ultimate Mealworm Substrate & Feed
SuperMeal Premium Mealworm Substrate/Bedding, is meticulously crafted and tested to provide the ideal environment for your mealworm colony. Enriched with a potent blend of complex B vitamins, it supports mealworms through their crucial pupation cycle, ensuring robust development.
Designed for seamless compatibility with The Bug Factory Grow Pods, it also stands as an excellent substrate choice for any mealworm farm. With a robust 10% protein base, this substrate naturally amplifies biomass, promoting healthier, heartier mealworms. We’ve also included natural seeds to elevate calcium levels, further fortifying their nutritional profile. Rest assured, every ingredient in this exceptional blend is sourced from Australia, guaranteeing top-quality nourishment for your thriving colony.
- Packed with complex b vitamins to help mealworms through the pupation cycle
- Specially formulated to work perfectly with The Bug Factory Grow Pods, but also a great substrate for any mealworm farm
- 10% Protein base to increase biomass naturally
- Added natural calcium boosting seeds
- 100% Australian ingredients
How to set up your Bug Factory
Breeding Mealworms – Step-by-step
Step One: Mealworms
You will need to source some live mealworms – most local pet shops have them. Alternatively they can be ordered online and sent via the postal system.
Put your live mealworms in a base unit provided with our Mealworm growing pods with some substrate – Supermeal is best, but you can use oats or pollard.
Put a piece of vegetable or fruit in to provide moisture, but nothing with too much water that will rot. I prefer carrot, as it takes the longest to go off.
Mealworms like a warm, dark environment. Around 25 degrees to 28 degrees is ideal, but they will grow in a reasonably wide range of temperatures. Outside of the ideal range their growth will be less though.
Check your mealworms daily if possible. Remove any rotted vegetable matter, dead insects, or clumps of mould from the substrate. Add more vegetables and substrate as required and move the bedding around to prevent mould.
Step Two: Pupae
Transformation into the pupal stage can take anywhere from a week to a couple of months. This all depends on how warm your climate is and how mature the mealworms you started with were.
Pupae start off extremely pale white and look more like little curled-up beetles than segmented worms.
Separate the pupae as soon as you see them. They won’t all turn to pupae at once, so you do need to keep an eye on them. You must separate them from adults because they cannot defend themselves and run the risk of being eaten before they have a chance to hatch. Pupae do not move around very much and do not require any food.
Use your plastic tweezers provided with The Bug Factory kit to sift through and find the pupae, then move these to another base unit with the beetle tray installed in it. Pupae should be placed on the upper section of the beetle tray.
The pupal stage can last anywhere from one to several weeks depending on the temperature. You will know they are getting close to hatching when they begin to darken in color.
Step Three: Beetles
Within a couple of weeks, you will start to see beetles emerge from the pupae. The beetles will climb off the upper section of the beetle tray and land in the lower section with small holes drilled in it. They will require a layer of substrate and a source of moisture in the same way that the worm stage does. Supermeal and carrot work well. The beetle tray keeps the pupae and beetles separate.
The beetles will begin to lay eggs on the substrate. Adult females will lay about 500 eggs at a time.
The Bug Factory beetle tray allows the eggs to fall through the holes into the base unit below. Over time, you will see small mealworms start developing below the beetle tray. The beetle tray should be left in place for around 2 weeks in the base unit. The time it is left in depends on the temperature and number of beetles in the tray as this will have an effect on how quickly the base unit is populated.
Step Four: Eggs and small mealworms
After a couple of weeks the beetle tray can be moved to another base unit where the beetles will repeat step 3. The eggs and small mealworms which have developed below the beetle tray should be treated the same as the mealworms in step one, and will grow into mature mealworms.
Step Five: Ongoing maintenance
Beetles can survive any length of time up to a few months and will continue to lay eggs during this time. They need to have access to substrate and a moisture source at all times. Any dead beetles should be removed, and you need to regularly check to ensure each base unit with worms in it has substrate as well as a moisture source (carrot or similar) too. Don’t feed all of your mealworms to your pets, you should always keep a few through to maturity and place them on the top section of the beetle tray once they turn to pupae as these will replenish your beetle population and ensure you have a regular supply of eggs and small mealworms.
Schools & Education
Perfect for Schools and Kindergartens!
Our Mealworm Grow Kits offer an immersive experience for schools and kindergartens, fostering learning about sustainability, life cycles, and compassionate pet care. These kits are more than just educational tools; they’re immersive experiences fostering hands-on learning, environmental awareness, teamwork, and scientific exploration.
Witness the captivating life cycle of mealworms, instilling responsibility and empathy in students while promoting sustainability. Crafted from recycled materials, these kits underscore the importance of repurposing and converting scraps into nutrient-rich feed. Seamlessly aligning with science curriculum, they ignite discussions on life cycles, ecosystems, and sustainable practices. Embrace an ongoing journey of discovery, as each generation of mealworms empowers students to deepen their understanding of ecosystems and life science.
Engaging Hands-On Learning: Witness the complete life cycle of mealworms, making biology and ecology tangible and engaging.
Instills Responsibility and Empathy: Nurturing living creatures fosters responsibility and empathy, teaching caring skills beyond academics.
Champions Environmental Awareness: Made from recycled materials, these kits promote repurposing and turning scraps into plant feed, reinforcing eco-friendly habits.
Aligned with Curricula: Seamlessly integrated into science and environmental studies, enriching discussions on life cycles, ecosystems, and sustainable agriculture.
Promotes Teamwork: Collaborative management of mealworms cultivates teamwork, effective communication, and problem-solving.
Enhances Critical Thinking: Students develop critical thinking through observation, analysis, and informed decision-making.
Endless Learning: These kits offer ongoing learning, allowing students to refine techniques and deepen their understanding of ecosystems and life cycles.
Mealworm Grow Kits spark curiosity, compassion, and ecological awareness, creating dynamic learning environments in classrooms.
FAQ
Can I go on holiday while breeding mealworms?
If you know you will not be able to feed your mealworms for several days – that’s Ok! Mealworms can live for several weeks without feeding. If you cannot get someone else to feed them, we recommend placing them into your fridge. They will hibernate. However, please be aware that eggs/pupae are less likely to survive an extended stay in your fridge.
Can mealworms feel pain?
For humans, pain is our body’s response to a stimulus. In contrast, insects have a simple nervous system and a very different biological make up to mammals, and do not perceive pain like we do.
Why is temperature and humidity important?
Temperature and humidity impacts growth rate. So, if it’s too cold it can take a long time for you to produce enough insects. If it gets too humid mould might start to form, which can kill your mealworm. High humidity can cause dust mites which naturally lie dormant in oats.
Ideal Temperture: 20-28°c (68-80 fahrenheit)
Ideal Humdity: 50-70%
I have too few or too many beetles...
If you have too few beetles you will have a reduced mealworm output. If you have too many, you will have a large mealworm output and risk overpopulation, which can lead to humidity issues which can in turn lead to mould and dust mites.
I can't see any mealworms?
It can take several weeks for the eggs to develop into mealworms. They start off very small and are barely visible.
Can you use these pods for superworms?
Our pods are designed around the life cycle of the mealworm. Superworms have a slightly different life cycle from mealworms, superworms need to be isolated from other superworms to turn into a pupa. They also cannot have access to food or water. Our pods do not isolate the insects so you can not use them to breed superworms effectively. However, if you have a tackle box or pill bottles you can put them in there until they pupate and then return them to the trays to store.
What animals like eating mealworms?
Mealworms are a popular food for many pet reptiles and birds. Many species of reptiles, such as lizards, turtles, and snakes, enjoy eating mealworms as a protein-rich treat. Some species of birds, such as chickens, ducks, and finches, also enjoy eating mealworms. In addition, many other types of pets, such as hedgehogs, sugar gliders, and rodents, may also enjoy eating mealworms as a supplement to their diet.
The Bug Factory Mealworm Farm Kit is a fascinating and educational way to explore the world of entomology from the comfort of your home. This innovative kit provides everything needed to cultivate and observe the life cycle of mealworms, from larva to pupa to beetle. With clear instructions and a user-friendly design, the kit allows both children and adults to witness firsthand the incredible transformations these creatures undergo
The kit offers more than just education. It allows users to recycle organic waste by feeding mealworms fruit and vegetable scraps, witnessing how these insects convert food waste into compost. As mealworms grow, they become a sustainable food source for pets like reptiles, birds, and small mammals.
Reviews
“Hello! My bug factory is positvely exploding with activity! It’s such a great set up. Previously I’ve bred mealworms in trays and this is so much nicer.”
‘The Bug Factory’s Mealworm Growing Pods are amazing for breeding mealworms for my reptiles and is super low-maintenance for me. I’m super busy with my six reptiles and being able to just throw some leftover veggies in the pod to let them do their thing is so helpful for me. Amazing product!’
‘It’s a little addictive to check up on the meal worms and search for pupa! To be able to ‘grow’ my own meal worm supply, sustainably and in a way I know exactly where my hens treats have come from is really pleasing!’